Deadlines and Forms
To complete a degree in a timely manner, students must document their progress by completing tracking forms and other degree requirements such as course work or a thesis. Forms and degree requirements must be submitted to and accepted by the Graduate School by the deadlines posted (see table below) in order to graduate in a given semester. Other degree requirements are found in the Graduate Catalog for each degree program. Programs may also have their own specific degree requirements. Students are advised to allow one week to process all final paperwork to graduate in the desired semester.
This page contains:
- Deadlines for graduation
- Forms and requirements for Master's students (MS, MFor, MBA)
- Forms and requirements for Master's of Engineering students (MEng)
- Forms and requirements for Graduate Certificates
- Forms and requirements for Doctoral candidates (PhD)
Information about theses, reports and dissertations is summarized on this page. A full listing of resources and instructions for submission can be found on the Graduate School's "Thesis and Dissertation Procedures" page.
Deadlines
| Graduating in... | Submit final paperwork no later than... | Final degree requirements must be completed by... | Deadline to apply to walk in commencement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2008 | May 5, 2008 | May 12, 2008 | March 21, 2008 |
| Summer 2008 | August 25, 2008 | September 2, 2008 | No ceremony in summer |
| Fall 2008 | January 5, 2009 | January 12, 2009 | October 31, 2008 |
| Spring 2009 | May 4, 2009 | May 11, 2009 | March 20, 2009 |
| Summer 2009 | August 24, 2009 | August 31, 2009 | No ceremony in summer |
| Fall 2009 | January 4, 2010 | January 11, 2010 | October 20, 2009 |
| Spring 2010 | May 3, 2010 | May 10, 2010 | March 19, 2010 |
| Summer 2010 | August 23, 2010 | August 30, 2010 (provisional) | No ceremony in summer |
Forms and Requirements for Master's students (MS, MFor, MBA)
Master's students may choose one of four different plans to complete their degrees:
- Plan A—Thesis option. Students complete coursework and a thesis.
- Plan B—Report option. Students complete coursework and a report.
- Plan C—Coursework option. Students complete coursework and a defense.
- Plan D—Coursework only option.
Each plan has different requirements, as summarized in the table below. All required forms (marked with an "X") are due in the Graduate School at the time indicated in the form description. Some programs may submit forms to the Graduate School for students; please check with the Graduate Program Assistant.
See the Catalog for other degree requirements.
| Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official, final transcript from previous college, if it is not Michigan Tech. If this does not include proof-of-degree, then an official proof of final degree is also required. First Semester/Before arrival on campus |
X | X | X | X |
| Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights Agreement First semester |
X | X | X | X |
| M2-GSO—Recommended Advisor/Advisory Committee Second semester |
X | X | X | X |
| M3—Preliminary Course Plan For planning purposes; do not submit to Graduate School |
||||
| M4—Degree Schedule Semester prior to defense/final semester OR semester prior to moving to full time research only mode |
X | X | X | X |
| Research Only Mode petition Due one week prior to the first day of classes in the semester student plans to enter research only mode. All required coursework and credits must be completed and the appropriate tracking forms must be on file. |
X | X | ||
| Commencement application form Six weeks prior to desired commencement ceremony (see "Deadlines") |
X | X | X | X |
| M5—Scheduling of Final Oral Exam Two weeks before oral exam |
X | X | X | |
| Abstract of thesis or report e-mailed to Nancy Byers Sprague or submitted on-line to Blackboard Two weeks before oral exam |
X | X | ||
| TD-Publishing Two weeks before oral exam |
X | X | ||
| Draft of thesis as a traditional or online submission Two weeks before oral exam |
X | |||
| M6—Report on oral exam Two weeks after oral exam |
X | X | X | |
| M6-D—Verification of degree requirements completion End of final exam week of final semester |
X | |||
| Final thesis as a traditional or online submission Must be accepted by first day of next semester |
X | |||
| Final report submitted in a sturdy binder; signature page with original signatures. Must be accepted by first day of next semester |
X | |||
| TD-Bindery—order form and invoice for bound copies Due with final thesis or report (optional) |
X | X (optional) | ||
| Title page of thesis, approval page with original signatures Due with payment and TD-Bindery |
X | X (optional) | ||
| Life-After-MTU information First day of semester after defense |
X | X | X | X |
| Return University keys to Public Safety, return all library books, and pay any outstanding fees before leaving campus. | ||||
On-line questionnaire for exiting graduate students |
Forms and Requirements for Master's of Engineering (MEng)
Forms designated with a "X" are required and due in the Graduate School at the time indicated in the form description. Some programs may submit forms to the Graduate School for students; please check with the Graduate Program Assistant.
See the Catalog for other degree requirements.
| MEng | |
|---|---|
| Official, final transcript from previous college, if it is not Michigan Tech. If this does not include proof-of-degree, then an official proof of final degree is also required. First Semester/Before arrival on campus |
X |
| Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights Agreement First semester |
X |
| MEng1—Proposed Degree Schedule For planning purposes only; do not return this form to the Graduate School |
|
| MEng2—Final Degree Schedule Semester before degree will be completed |
X |
| MEng3—Verification of degree requirements completion Semester in which all degree requirements are completed |
X |
| Commencement application form Six weeks prior to desired commencement ceremony (see "Deadlines") |
X |
| Life-After-MTU information First day of semester after defense |
X |
| Return University keys to Public Safety, return all library books, and pay any outstanding fees before leaving campus. | |
Questionnaire for exiting graduate students |
Forms and Requirements for Graduate Certificates
See the Catalog for other degree requirements.
| Certificate | |
|---|---|
| GC(SFI)1—Degree Schedule—Certificate in Sustainability Following completion of all required coursework |
X |
Forms and Requirements for Doctoral Students (PhD)
Forms designated with a "G" are due in the Graduate School, while forms designated with a "P" are due to the graduate program. Some programs may submit forms to the Graduate School for students; please check with the Graduate Program Assistant to determine how to submit forms.
See the Catalog for other degree requirements.
| PhD | |
|---|---|
| Official, final transcript from previous college, if it is not Michigan Tech. If this does not include proof-of-degree, then an official proof of final degree is also required. First Semester/Before arrival on campus |
X |
| D1-Acceptance into the Doctoral Program from a Michigan Tech Master's Program First semester as a doctoral student ONLY for MIchigan Tech masters's students transferring into a PhD program |
G |
| Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights Agreement First semester |
G |
| D2—Recommended Advisor/Advisory Committee Second semester |
G |
| D3—Preliminary Course Plan For planning purposes only; do not submit to Graduate School |
|
| D4—Report on Comprehensives After comprehensives; due to Graduate Program; all programs except Engineering Physics |
P |
| D4-EngPhysics—Report on Comprehensives After comprehensives; due to Graduate Program; Engineering Physics ONLY |
P |
| D4A—Recommended Advisory Committee Semester following completion of comprehensives |
G |
| D5—Degree Schedule Semester prior to final oral defense OR semester prior to moving to full time research only mode |
G |
| D6—Approval of Dissertation Proposal When topic and committee are set |
G |
| Research Only Mode petition Due one week prior to the first day of classes in the semester student plans to enter research only mode. All coursework, comprehensive exam and proposal defense must be completed and appropriate tracking forms must be on file. |
G |
| Commencement application form Six weeks prior to desired commencement ceremony (see "Deadlines") |
G |
| D7—Scheduling of Final Oral Exam Two weeks before oral exam |
G |
| Abstract of dissertation e-mailed to Nancy Byers Sprague or submitted online to Blackboard Two weeks before oral exam |
G |
| TD-Publishing Two weeks before oral exam |
G |
| Draft of dissertation as a traditional or online submission (step 1) Two weeks before oral exam |
G |
| D8—Report on oral exam Two weeks after oral exam |
G |
| Final dissertation as a traditional or online submission (step 3) Must be accepted by first day of next semester |
G |
| TD-Bindery—order form and invoice for bound copies Due with final dissertation |
G |
| Title page of dissertation, approval page with original signatures Due with payment and TD-Bindery |
G |
Dissertation submitted to ProQuest/UMI (submit an identical copy for binding and ProQuest)
|
G |
| Life-After-MTU information First day of semester after defense |
G |
Survey of Earned Doctorates; pdf form; paper form is mailed to student after receipt of D7 |
G |
| Return University keys to Public Safety, return all library books, and pay any outstanding fees before leaving campus. | |
On-line questionnaire for exiting graduate students |
Optional |